A Cross-National Comparison of English-Language Category Norms

The category norms collected in the U.S.A. by Battig and Montague are compared with category norms collected in Great Britain at the same time. Twelve categories common to the two sets of norms are examined. In some cases, such as Chemical Elements and Colours, the norms are very similar; in other cases, striking differences emerge. Possible explanations of the differences are discussed. In some cases the differences reflect the fact that the two national populations are exposed to a different set of referent objects, either naturally occurring (as in the case of Birds) or culturally created (as in Sports), and therefore need different names for different things. In other cases (such as Articles of Clothing) the two national groups differ less in the range of objects experienced and more in the choice of terms to name these objects.